13th.

We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 Cor. vi. 1.

Oh Lord and Heavenly Father, who, of Thine infinite mercy, hast caused that grace of Thine which bringeth salvation to appear unto us; we pray Thee so to rule our whole hearts and lives, that we may in no way receive it in vain. Rather, having been ourselves succoured in the day of salvation, may, we aspire to the glorious privilege of becoming workers together with Thee, by beseeching others also to seek reconciliation with Thee in an accepted time, through Christ Jesus Thy Son. Amen.

14th.

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James i. 27.

Oh Lord most holy; we should indeed vainly hope to present anything of our's before Thee, as pure and undefiled: yet we desire, through Thy grace assisting us, to exhibit something of the excellence of the religion of Jesus; and pray for more and more grace, to tread in His steps, visiting the fatherless and widows in their affliction, in His spirit, and aiming to keep ourselves unspotted from a world that lieth in wickedness, because it hateth Him who came to save it. Oh hear and answer us for his sake, Amen.

15th.

Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, &c. Luke xiii. 23, 24.

Lord teach us to shun all questions that are unprofitable and vain; and may our enquiry be, not, "are there few," but "What must I do to be saved." Oh that blessing Thee for Thy free invitation to all, we may be most concerned to prove that we have truly entered in at the strait gate, by walking consistently in the narrow way. Thus seeking in this the accepted time, may we in that awful day when many shall seek to enter in too late, and therefore not be able, praise Thee with the multitude which no man can number, through Christ Jesus, Amen.

16th.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalm xliii. 5.

Pity and pardon, oh merciful Lord, we entreat Thee, that weakness of our mortal nature, which causes our souls to be so often cast down or disquieted within us, because of Thy righteous judgments: and since Thou, the God of hope, dost graciously permit us to call Thee our God, oh strengthen our weak faith to know Thee, as the health of our countenance, to hope in Thee continually, and yet to praise Thee more and more as the God of our strength on earth, till Thou become our exceeding joy in Thy holy hill above, through Christ Jesus. Amen.

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17th.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John iil. 3.

Oh Thou who art alike the God of providence and the God of grace, it is to Thine unmerited mercy alone that we must ascribe alike the advantages attending the time and place of our natural birth, and the better privileges and hopes belonging to those who are born again of water and of the Spirit. Oh that those may be our happy portion; that being thus born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of Thee, we may belong to Thy kingdom of grace on earth, and enter with joy Thy kingdom of glory above, through Christ Jesus. Amen.

18th.

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, say. ing, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Mat. xxvi. 27, 28.

with

Gracious Saviour, may we receive glad thanksgiving the cup of salvation of which Thou freely invitest us all to drink; blessing Thee for not having rather put into our hands that bitter cup of wrath and agony, which Thou wast content to drink even to the

dregs, for our sakes. Oh give us grace to realize something of the preciousness of that blood of the New Testament, which is shed for us and for many, for the remission of sins, and to praise Thee more worthily as the Lamb that was slain for us, both now and for evermore. Amen.

19th.

The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? John xviii. 11.

Oh Thou who permittest us to call Thee Father, as accepted in Jesus the Beloved; Thou knowest our feeble nature would vainly strive to drink the cup Thou wast pleased to give Him in our stead. Yet grant us such a measure of His entire acquiescence in all Thy holy righteous will, that whatever kind or measure of bitterness it may seem good to Thee to infuse in our cup of undeserved and overflowing mercy, we may be prepared to receive it from our Father's hand, without murmuring or doubting, to His glory, and our own good. Amen.

20th.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. vi. 11.

Oh Thou whose blessed Son was manifested that He might take away sins; grant that He may indeed bless us, by turning away every one of us from our iniquities. And though we have too often, alas, to mourn the remaining power of inbred corruption, uniting against us with the assaults of the Tempter from without; yet while striving daily to crucify the flesh, may we be able, through Thy grace assisting us, to reckon ourselves as dying, if not yet dead unto sin, and alive unto Thee, with and through Christ Jesus Thy Son our Lord. Amen.

21st.

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 1 John v. 11.

Oh God, Thy record concerning our guilty race might justly have been one, not of mercy, but of condemnation. But since Thy thoughts towards us have been thoughts of peace and not of evil, in that Thou art ready to give us the free and inestimable gift of eternal life in Thy Son; oh incline our hearts humbly, fully and thankfully to receive so great salvation: and enable us to live now to Him who purchased it for us with His own most precious blood, as we hope to live with Him hereafter in His everlasting kingdom. Amen.

22nd.

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. Heb. viii. 6.

Oh Thou, our Great High Priest, who art the Minister of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched and not man; we entreat that the influences of Thy Spirit may so enlighten our understandings, and affect out hearts, that in looking back to that dispensation which was of old, a shadow of better things to come, we may worthily praise Thee for the more excellent ministry, the better covenant, and the more fully established promises, which Thou hast obtained for us through Thy one sacrifice and mediation; and as comers thereunto be made perfect in Thee for ever. Amen.